AC/DC fans fume after developers knock down home where band was founded
Burwood Square Pty Ltd has reportedly apologised for destroying the property in Sydney after a backlash from fans of the Australian music giants.
AC/DC co-founders Angus and Malcom Young moved into 4 Burleigh Street in 1965 after their family migrated to the country from Scotland.
The brothers went on to found AC/DC in the property eight years later when lead guitarist Angus was 18 and rhythm guitarist Malcolm was 20.
Angus’s iconic schoolboy outfit – which he still wears on stage – was based on the uniform of the nearby Ashfield Boys High School that the brothers attended.
During their decades of success, the Burleigh Street home was visited by AC/DC fans from around the world.
However, Burwood Square Pty Ltd has claimed it had no idea of the significance of the property when it bought the building for $5.8m (£2.9m) in February 2023, according to multiple reports in Australian media.
The company is said to have knocked down the building as part of plans for a $28.8m (£14.5m) residential development, ABC reported.
In a statement issued to Australian media after the home was destroyed, Burwood Square Pty Ltd’s general manager Leon Kmita said: “We regret that the previous long-term owner did not share this vital part of the property’s background with us.
“Learning about this connection after our plans were already under way has shocked us. We are genuinely sorry for this oversight.”
He added: “On behalf of the team at Burwood Square, I want to convey our heartfelt regret.
“We now recognise how deeply this location resonates with the AC/DC community and fans worldwide. We feel a strong responsibility to honour AC/DC’s legacy and to make amends to all the fans who hold this band in such high regard.”
Mr Kmita said the company is now “devoted to making this right” and plans to salvage materials from the demolition site.
He added that the firm is set to establish a “special space” where AC/DC fans can “gather to celebrate the band’s enduring legacy”.
The building was demolished despite being on the National Trust list of historic homes since 2013, according to news.com.au.
However, Burwood Council has reportedly said the register does not protect homes from being knocked down.
The council, which last year commissioned a mural of the Young brothers which was painted on the side of 12 Burleigh Street, is also reported to have hit back after being criticised following the demolition of the rockers’ childhood home.
It said in a statement issued to Australian media: “Burwood Council remains committed to finding new ways to celebrate the Young family and the area’s rich musical heritage.”
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Meanwhile, AC/DC fans have expressed their anger on the Facebook page “AC/DC – Rock ‘n’ Roll Thunder”, which has more than 85,000 members.
Peter Gould, the page’s admin, shared photos of the destruction site and said the “iconic Young house” had been “demolished”.
One fan replied: “An outrage! Ignorance is no excuse for the developer’s ignorance about the house’s history.
“This information is freely available on the internet for anyone that cares enough to seek it out.”
Another wrote: “Sad move here… surprised Australia did not consider the Young home a treasure of historical significance… unfortunate IMO [in my opinion]”.
A third fan added: “It’s all about greed around now. It’s a sad world we live in now.”
Another fan wrote: “How does this happen. An utter disgrace.”
AC/DC are set for a US tour this year with Angus being the band’s only original member.
Malcom died in 2017, three years after he was diagnosed with dementia.
